Highway Maintenance Worker Salary
Highway Maintenance Workers earn a median $50,260 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
What highway maintenance workers do
Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement and repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. May also mow or clear brush from along road, or plow snow from roadway.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.4% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 11,800
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of highway maintenance workers is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 11,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Highway Maintenance Worker take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,851
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,116
- Medicare (1.45%)$729
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,564
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,230 | $17.42 | $31,291 |
| 25th percentile | $43,500 | $20.91 | $37,132 |
| Median (50th) | $50,260 | $24.16 | $42,564 |
| 75th percentile | $61,040 | $29.35 | $51,226 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,970 | $34.60 | $59,461 |
Best cities for highway maintenance workers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $76,220 | $58,823 | $56,781 | 4,110 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $60,280 | $47,957 | $42,604 | 6,800 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $43,890 | $36,098 | $35,199 | 3,450 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Chicago, IL — $76,220
- New York, NY — $60,280
- Philadelphia, PA — $43,890
Highway Maintenance Worker salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $65,330 | +3.7% | $49,786 | $50,810 – $70,320 | 1,650 |
| Washington | $65,300 | +3.0% | $54,649 | $54,830 – $80,060 | 2,590 |
| Connecticut | $64,870 | +1.7% | $52,309 | $57,710 – $79,490 | 2,130 |
| Minnesota | $63,150 | +3.7% | $50,150 | $45,660 – $72,650 | 4,610 |
| Illinois | $61,700 | +6.1% | $48,847 | $35,680 – $100,790 | 10,790 |
| Massachusetts | $61,500 | +3.8% | $48,740 | $46,460 – $79,860 | 2,000 |
| Montana | $60,960 | +0.4% | $49,053 | $50,650 – $65,610 | 1,140 |
| North Dakota | $60,630 | −0.3% | $50,896 | $47,400 – $78,510 | 1,240 |
| California | $59,580 | +2.2% | $47,654 | $44,780 – $84,520 | 8,150 |
| Iowa | $58,490 | +3.0% | $47,606 | $47,380 – $67,980 | 4,000 |
| Vermont | $58,460 | +3.6% | $47,628 | $47,080 – $67,910 | 1,170 |
| Wisconsin | $58,000 | +5.9% | $47,012 | $42,970 – $66,150 | 6,000 |
| Rhode Island | $57,950 | +7.2% | $47,187 | $46,480 – $63,910 | 620 |
| Utah | $55,970 | +6.7% | $45,599 | $44,430 – $69,310 | 1,240 |
| New York | $55,210 | +6.2% | $44,157 | $44,150 – $75,690 | 13,820 |
| Alaska | $54,090 | −12.6% | $45,641 | $46,060 – $77,710 | 50 |
| Michigan | $53,750 | +8.4% | $43,335 | $34,830 – $63,460 | 5,230 |
| Colorado | $52,350 | −7.2% | $42,648 | $44,940 – $66,780 | 1,990 |
| Idaho | $52,050 | +5.3% | $42,352 | $43,260 – $70,840 | 1,340 |
| New Jersey | $51,720 | +2.0% | $42,427 | $36,810 – $80,360 | 4,850 |
| New Hampshire | $51,050 | +3.8% | $43,199 | $41,520 – $61,410 | 1,230 |
| Arizona | $50,850 | +6.4% | $41,975 | $38,020 – $63,910 | 1,410 |
| Virginia | $50,800 | +2.9% | $40,891 | $41,540 – $62,850 | 3,400 |
| Nevada | $49,320 | +6.5% | $41,809 | $36,070 – $74,410 | 990 |
| Maine | $49,030 | +3.5% | $39,448 | $37,040 – $60,320 | 1,620 |
| Maryland | $49,030 | −9.7% | $39,610 | $38,090 – $78,830 | 620 |
| Ohio | $48,880 | +1.9% | $40,893 | $36,570 – $67,280 | 6,070 |
| Nebraska | $48,650 | +3.3% | $39,936 | $42,310 – $60,060 | 2,580 |
| South Dakota | $48,610 | +2.0% | $41,238 | $39,030 – $61,490 | 1,800 |
| Indiana | $48,480 | −0.2% | $39,733 | $40,300 – $62,510 | 4,380 |
| Wyoming | $48,190 | −0.8% | $40,901 | $42,970 – $66,410 | 820 |
| South Carolina | $48,130 | +26.7% | $39,122 | $37,740 – $60,780 | 2,290 |
| North Carolina | $47,880 | +9.4% | $39,250 | $34,980 – $58,870 | 3,750 |
| New Mexico | $47,740 | +3.2% | $39,454 | $33,770 – $59,380 | 1,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,690 | +0.0% | $39,035 | $36,830 – $66,050 | 11,140 |
| Missouri | $47,470 | +2.6% | $39,028 | $37,970 – $61,440 | 5,470 |
| Tennessee | $46,070 | −2.0% | $39,197 | $32,180 – $57,270 | 2,280 |
| Kansas | $46,050 | +1.9% | $37,411 | $37,730 – $58,160 | 1,960 |
| Texas | $45,540 | +8.0% | $38,771 | $32,410 – $58,990 | 6,630 |
| Delaware | $45,450 | +12.6% | $36,853 | $35,680 – $63,050 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $45,260 | −0.1% | $37,236 | $31,440 – $53,910 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $44,790 | +11.9% | $37,211 | $27,760 – $63,010 | 1,050 |
| Florida | $42,210 | +7.2% | $36,096 | $33,610 – $57,220 | 2,530 |
| Kentucky | $40,400 | +9.5% | $33,345 | $30,030 – $50,750 | 3,030 |
| Oklahoma | $38,840 | +0.2% | $32,186 | $31,220 – $48,150 | 3,180 |
| Georgia | $37,560 | +1.2% | $31,033 | $30,600 – $48,760 | 1,980 |
| Alabama | $37,430 | +3.8% | $30,649 | $27,620 – $52,750 | 2,730 |
| Arkansas | $35,740 | −6.1% | $29,716 | $27,190 – $46,110 | 860 |
| Mississippi | $35,120 | +3.0% | $29,726 | $27,700 – $45,170 | 4,160 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Worker | $49,910 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner | $49,880 | High school diploma or equivalent | +7.8% |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $49,450 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.5% |
| Fence Erector | $47,980 | No formal educational credential | +5.6% |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operator | $70,070 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.5% |
| Construction and Building Inspector | $74,690 | High school diploma or equivalent | 0.0% |
| Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer | $109,910 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.7% |
| Carpet Installer | $50,340 | No formal educational credential | -16.4% |
| Floor Sander and Finisher | $50,440 | No formal educational credential | +1.4% |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | No formal educational credential | +3.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make?
The national median salary for highway maintenance workers is $50,260 a year ($24.16 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,230 and the top 10% earn over $71,970. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays highway maintenance workers the most?
Oregon has the highest median pay at $65,330. After taxes and local prices, Chicago, IL offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many highway maintenance workers are there in the U.S.?
About 154,960 people work as highway maintenance workers nationwide.